Category:

LPN

City:

Jackson

State:

Tennessee

Shift:

Job Description Summary:

Responsible for aiding the professional nurse or physician in providing optimal patient care, addressing age specific needs, in the assigned single operating room in a surgical assistant capacity or assisting the physician on the floor and in the clinic. Responsible for obtaining health history and following through with all provider orders for further testing; referrals and scheduling surgeries. Responsible for providing patient care for assigned shift as full time employee. Responsible for notifying the provider of patient phone concerns and carrying out the recommendations / orders given back as a response to the patient. Responsible for handling provider schedules and addressing all aspects of preparing for procedures / surgeries; including precepts and patient education. Responsible for handling medications and office based procedures. Responsible for post-operative follow-up; including suture removal and assessing patient for potential infection if working on Neurosurgery area. Employee is under the supervision of the physician and management team. Position requires call coverage for neurosurgical call as needed. Employee is subject to call back and overtime as required by the hospital.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Demonstrates thorough knowledge of principles of asepsis ensuring that proper techniques and practices are maintained, in providing age-specific patient care.
• Assist Neuroscience providers with preparing patient and throughout surgical procedure; including insertion of folly catheter; positioning patient; draping, providing exposure; maintaining and controlling homeostasis & suturing incisions, if needed.  
• Assist Neurology providers with preparing patient and throughout office procedures as needed.
• Scrubs, gowns and gloves self and physician for surgical procedures.
• Handles and passes instruments correctly and insures their proper functionality and storage.
• Insures correct sponge, needle and instrument counts.
• Insures proper handling of all lab and tissue specimens according to established protocol.  
• Assumes responsibility for proper handling of supplies / equipment. Demonstrates thorough knowledge and assist with operating surgical equipment, including stealth machine; O-Arm and 3-point Mayfield equipment if working with Neurosurgeon in OR.
• Assists with table and room clean up following procedure, and prepares room for the next procedure within scheduled allocated times.
• Assists Surgeon / Other Medical Provider in the operating room, Emergency Room, ICU and office in performing exams and urgent care such as: burr holes; placement of ventriculostomy drains and ventricular peritoneal shunt taps if working w Neurosurgery team. 
• Access to medications.
• Performs specified patient care with a high degree of skill, minimal discomfort to the patient and minimal supervision under the direction of the physician.
• Receives and transcribes the physician, FNP, PA orders as appropriate.
• Contributes to the development, implementation, and continuing evaluation of the patient care plan.
• Identifies, records and reports any change in patient condition or adverse reaction to treatment and/or medication to the medical provider.
• Documents care in patient’s record.
• Assists physician with patient care in the clinic setting, such as: suture removals, wound care assessment, post-operative assessments, vitals
• Performs surgical scheduling, insurance pre-certifications and completes referrals for patients.
• Rotation of call coverage for neurosurgical assistant.
• Performs related responsibilities as required or directed.
• Performs preceptor duties to new employees to provide needed guidance during orientation.

JOB SPECIFICATIONS:

EDUCATION:

• Completion of a vocational school LPN program.

LICENSURE, REGISTRATION, CERTIFICATION:

• Current licensure as a Licensed Practical Nurse as approved by the Tennessee Board of Nursing for practice in the state of Tennessee.
• Responsible for Continuing Education Units annually.
• BLS certification must be obtained within the orientation period, and certification must be kept current while in this position.
• Special certifications may be required at the department’s discretion.

EXPERIENCE:

• Ability to scrub during surgical cases as acquired through three – four months of departmental education.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of hospital and department policies and procedures, surgical procedures, instruments, equipment, documentation policies and knowledge of documentation programs.
• Knowledge and efficiency in operating surgical equipment including stealth, O-Arm and 3-Point Mayfield if working with Neurosurgery team.
• Knowledge of medication and appropriate preparation of medications needed for office procedures.

NONDISCRIMINATION NOTICE STATEMENT

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, disability, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, sexual orientation, age, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.